plaid

From Scots plaid, of uncertain origin; perhaps from a past participle form of ply. Scottish Gaelic plaide (“blanket”) is probably a borrowing from Scots.[1]

• (Scotland) IPA^(key): /pled/, /plad/
• (Received Pronunciation, UK) IPA^(key): /plæd/
• (General American, US) IPA^(key): /plæd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æd

plaid (countable and uncountable, plural plaids)

1. (textiles) A type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern. [from 16^thc.]
   • 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., OCLC 580270828, page 01:

     It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar.

2. A length of such material used as a piece of clothing, formerly worn in the Scottish Highlands and other parts of northern Britain and remaining as an item of ceremonial dress worn by members of Scottish pipe bands. [from 16^thc.]
   • 2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley 2009, p.47:

     In battle, the plaid was customarily shrugged off before the charge bit home, and the warrior came into contact with only his long, saffron shirt (‘leine chrochach’) to preserve modesty.

3. The typical chequered pattern of a plaid; tartan. [from 19^thc.]

plaid (comparative more plaid, superlative most plaid)

1. Having a pattern or colors which resemble a Scottish tartan; checkered or marked with bars or stripes at right angles to one another.

Alternative forms.

plaid

1. (archaic) simple past tense and past participle of play
   • 1774, Dr Samuel Johnson, Preface to the Works of the English Poets, J. Nichols, Volume II, Page 134,

     "...then plaid on the organ, and sung..."

Borrowed from English plaid.

plaid m (invariable)

1. tartan rug (especially one used when travelling)

From Old French plait, plaid.

plaid

1. Alternative form of ple

plaid m (oblique plural plaiz or plaitz, nominative singular plaiz or plaitz, nominative plural plaid)

1. Alternative form of plait

• (Rumantsch Grischun, Sutsilvan, Surmiran, Puter, Vallader) pled

plaid m (plural plaids)

1. (Sursilvan) word

• pledari

Origin uncertain; perhaps from a past participle form of ply.

• IPA^(key): /pled/

plaid (plural plaids)

1. plaid

• IPA^(key): /plai̯d/

plaid f (plural pleidiau)

1. (politics) (political) party